Pakistan’s New Ordinance Expands Chief Justice’s Powers
In Islamabad, a new ordinance was introduced to expand the powers of Pakistan’s Chief Justice in selecting Supreme Court benches. Presented by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, the ordinance is set to be debated in the Senate next week. It proposes changes to public interest case handling and hearing schedules.
Changes in Bench Formation
The ordinance, initially promulgated by President Asif Ali Zardari, alters the bench-forming committee to include the Chief Justice, the next most senior judge, and a third judge chosen by the Chief Justice. It also mandates a formal order for cases deemed of public importance.
Hearing Procedures and Transparency
Cases must be heard on a first-come, first-served basis unless prioritized by law. All Supreme Court hearings will be recorded and transcripts made public.
Proposal to Increase Judges
A Senate committee endorsed increasing Supreme Court judges from 17 to 25, despite opposition from some members.
Government Funding and Development Concerns
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal highlighted funding limitations for development projects due to debt obligations, calling for urgent tax reforms.
Electric Vehicle Policy and Inflation
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain announced a new policy for electric vehicles, while Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik reported decreasing inflation rates and lower prices for essential goods.
Doubts Revealed
Ordinance -: An ordinance is a law or rule made by the government. It is like a special rule that can be made quickly without going through the usual long process of making a law.
Chief Justice -: The Chief Justice is the head judge of the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in a country. They have important responsibilities like deciding which judges will hear certain cases.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in a country where important legal decisions are made. It is like the final judge that decides on big and important cases.
Senate -: The Senate is a part of the government where important people discuss and make decisions about new laws. It is like a big meeting room where leaders talk about what rules should be made.
Public interest cases -: Public interest cases are legal cases that affect the general public or a large group of people. They are important because they can change how things work for everyone.
Hearing transcripts -: Hearing transcripts are written records of everything that is said during a court hearing. They help people understand what happened in the court and are important for keeping things fair and transparent.
Government funding issues -: Government funding issues refer to problems related to how the government gets and uses money. It can affect how well the government can provide services to the people.
Electric vehicle policy -: An electric vehicle policy is a plan made by the government to encourage the use of electric cars. It can include rules and incentives to make electric cars more popular and reduce pollution.
Inflation rates -: Inflation rates show how much prices for things like food and clothes are going up over time. If inflation rates go down, it means prices are not increasing as fast, which is usually good for people buying things.